Washing machine



May 25 1926.

P. E. BARKER WASHING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Shet 1 Filed Oct. 12 1921 May 25., 1926.

P. E. BARKER WASHING MACHINE I Filed OCT. 12 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 25, 1926.

VPEBCY E. BARKER, or

CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO THOMAS B.

VAN DORN, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

WASHING MACHINE.

Application filed October 12,1921. Serial No. 507,250.

This invention relates to improvements in washing machines.

The objects of this invention are to provide a washing machine of the rotary cylinder type in which the cylinder or drum is rotated without the use of the customary gears for delivering power to the drum; and

- more specifically to provide the drum with an annular series of pockets dipping into the fluid contained within the casing in which at least a part of the fluid is displaced from the pockets successively by a fluid of less specificgravity, as for example, air; furthermore, to provide a structure in which the air or other fluid is allowed to circulate from the air pipe and pockets up through the drum; and to provide also means for forcing a current of the cleansing fluid con tained within the casing through openings in the ends of the drum so as to increase the circulation of the fluid through the materials contained within the drum. I Other objects of this invention will appear from the following description and claims when considered together with the accompanying drawings. i

Fig. 1 is a vertical transverse section of my improved device; Fig. 2 is an end yiew of the drum; Fig." 3 is a side view partly in elevation and partly in section; and Fig. i is an elevation of the delivery end of the air pipe.

The outer casing 1 which may be of any ,suitable form is provided with the removable cover 2 and ,the bearings 3 for support of the trunnions 4:. on the two ends of the cylinder or drum 5 which is adapted to ro-v tate within the casing and to be partly submergedin the cleansing fluid contained therein. The drum comprises the end wall members 6 which? are shown as of dish shape and which are for the most partimperforate, except for the perforations indicated at 7. The blades *8 suitably mounted on the end walls 6 form pockets which open in opposite directions on the two ends of the drum and together with the perforations 7 constitute what might be termedlouvers which are adapted to cause circulation of the cleansing fluid through the openings and from one end to the other of the drum as it is rotated through the fluid. The main wall of the drum comprises an annularly arranged series of channel shaped plates or strips 9 whose ends are suitably secured to the ring members 9 seated in the circumferentially extending flanges 6 on the end walls 6. q The channel members 9 are each provided with a pocket 10 and an extended portion 11 which extends over the adjacent -pocket of the next channel member. These members are properly spaced from each other so as to provide a passage for communication between each pocket and the inside of the drum, this passage being indicated at 12. A passage is indicated at 1.3 for communication between the outside of the drum and the pockets 1'0 and through these communicating passages there is es tablished a circulation of cleansing fluid and air from the outside to the inside of the drum. The drum is provided also with a cover indicated'at 14 which comprises a number of the channel members 9- with sec- .tors of the ring members 9 and which may be secured in closed position by any suit able locking means. k

A pipe 15 which leads from a source of air under pressure has connection at its the casing and which is adapted to deliver a jet of air through nozzle 16 suitably secured to the inner wall of the casing on the opposite side of the aperture 17. The nozzle 16 is of tapering form with its small end beveled as indicated at 18 so as to direct the jet of air somewhat in an upward direc tion. As shown in the drawing, the mouth pottion 16. is located in clbse proximity to the outside of the drum so that the jet of air delivered through the mouth will impinge in turn against the channel members 9 so as to displace at least a portion ofthe fluid from the pockets. r

From the above it will be seen that the 'et of air will displace at least a portion of the fluid from one of the pockets 1O opposlte the mouth, the air forced into the pocket being indicated at 20. The result of such substitution is that the load is lightened at this point and a tendency is therefore creair will be permitted to gradually escape through a communicating passage 12, as indicated at '12,to the inside of the drum and up through the fluid to the air space thereabove. The decrease in the volume of air in the several pockets is indicated in the drawings. It will be noted that the jet of air is discharged into the pockets of the drum at a point in one of the lower quadrants oi the path of travel of the drum and that the liquid level is at a point corresponding approximately with the topmost point in the path of travel of the louvers.

Thus I have avoided the use of the customary gears for a drive connect-ion tor the drum and at the same time I have obtained a circulation of air and cleansing fluid through the materials within the drum, which means a highly ciiicient cleansing of the materials.

i hat I claim is:

1. A washing machine, comprising a fluid containing casing, a drum rotatable on a horizontal axis therein the peripheral wall of said drum being provided with a series oi externally opening pockets having impertorate inner walls, each of said pockets being provided with an extended wall portion which partially covers and thereby "estricts the external opening of an adjac "it pocket, and means for supplying a gaseous medium to said pockets so as to cause the rotation of the drum.

2. A washing machine, comprising" a fluid containing casing, a drum rotatable on a horizontal axis therein, the peripheral wall of said drum being provided with a series of externally opening pockets having; imperforate inner walls, said pockets being spaced apart so as to provide passages therebetwecn, each of said pockets being provided with an extended Wall portion which partially covers the external opening of an adjacent pocket, said extended wall portions cooperating with the passages between the pockets in the establishment of communication between said pockets and the inside of the drum, and means for supplying a gaseous medium to said pockets so as to cause the rotation of said-drum.

A washing machine, comprising a fluid containing casing, a drum rotatable on a horizontal axis therein, the peripheral w of said dri n being provided with a series or externally opening pockets having impertorate inner walls, said pockets being spaced apart so as to provide passages therebetween and each of said pockets being; pro- 5 vided with an extended wall portion, said extended wall portions co-operat-ing with 5* a passages between the pockets in the est: lishment of connnunication between pockets and the insir e of the. drum, means for supplying; a gaseous mediu said pockets so as to cause the rotation of said drum.

A washing machine comprisinga wrshinn; fluid containing casing, a drum iou nailed in said casing said drum huvi series of pockets arranged about the of said drum and in communication the washing fluid in said casing; said pocl' having battled passages communicating xvi u it the inside of said drum and means for substitutinp a gaseous fluid for at least a pa"; of the washing fluid said pockets wh they occupy positions in the lower quadrant of said drum so as to create a rotary nmsiou of said drum, said oaseous fluid being; of such nature as to maintain substantially fixed volume in presence of the washing flinch 5. A washing machine comprising a washing fluid containing casing, a rotary drum mounted in said casing, the main wall of said drum including a plurality of spaced wall sections so as to provide means of communication for fluids through the wall of the drum, said wall sections being each pro- 8 vided with a pocket opening outwardly and having communication with the inside and outside of the drum, and means for substi tuting a gaseous fluid for at least a part of the washing fluid in said pockets when they 90 occupy positions in the lower part of the path of travel of the drum, said gaseous fluid being of such nature as to maintain substantially fixed volume in the presence of the Washing fluid. 95

In testimony whereof I hereby aflix my signature.

PERCY E. BARKER. 

